PHILADELPHIA — By Friday, Michael Vick expects to announce whether he will be able to participate in a game of football. Until then, he wants it clear: He is not playing any of the other kind.

Whether from personal pride, or simply because he was tiring of the topic, Vick insisted Thursday at the NovaCare Complex that whether he plays or not against the visiting New York Giants Sunday will be based only on his health — not on mid-week gamesmanship.

So if he continues to scramble from the issue, it is not to be coy, or to complicate the Giants’ planning, or to in any way give the Eagles a competitive advantage.

“This is not an issue to play around with,” Vick said after practice Thursday. “I am not up here playing games with you. I am not blowing smoke. I am just trying to figure out what’s the best situation.”

Advertisement

Vick has missed the Birds’ last two and a half games with a left hamstring injury, and is almost certain to return Sunday. That, he should be certain of Friday, when he mixes all-out sprints into his preparation.

Yet even with Nick Foles concussed and not practicing, and even after Matt Barkley had all three of his possessions in a 17-3 loss to the Dallas Cowboys punctured by interceptions, Chip Kelly was not ready to appoint Vick as his starter. Indeed, Kelly has so consistently ducked the issue, even when presented with clear questions, that he has projected an air of needless secrecy.

Before practice Thursday, Kelly even insisted that he had not discussed Vick sprinting on Friday — even though Vick was perfectly comfortable revealing that afterward.

“We haven’t talked about that yet,” Kelly hedged. “We are just putting a game plan in. Right now, it’s Mike and Matt, getting them comfortable with what we’re doing, and then we’ll see where Mike is.

“Mike had a good day (Wednesday) running around, but again, it’s about how you respond the next day.”

In the portion of the practice visible to the press — hardly more than a warmup session — Vick appeared bouncy, not demonstrating any limp and passing with velocity and accuracy. Nor did he complain of any new complications after practice. Yet asked directly if he would declare himself available for Sunday, Vick swerved.

“I just want to take one more day and see how it feels,” he said. “We had a good practice today. I really didn’t have to stretch it (the hamstring) out. Tomorrow (Friday) is a run day for us, so I will give it a go.”

Vick, however, was confident that he would respond well to the added effort Friday.

“There is never any doubt in my mind,” Vick said. “You hope for the best. I’m figuring right now that it is going to be a positive situation, hopefully. I just can’t tell you right now.”

Vick will run Friday, including a 100-yard sprint. If successful, he strongly hinted, he would proclaim himself ready to start.

“When I say I am going to go, I am going to go,” he said. “But right now, I am doing the best that I can.”

The Eagles’ official injury report did say that Vick practiced “fully” Thursday and Friday — an indication that the vigil soon will be over.

“I am ready to get it out of the way, get it over with,” he said. “I am going every day, seeing that my arm is in shape. But I really want to get out there and run. I won’t hold anything back, It’s all part of the process.